Our Christmas Stocking Tradition
When I was a little girl, we opened all our gifts in the morning, bar one. That was our ‘tea-time’ present, it sat underneath the Christmas Tree until the end of the day. I loved having that one thing left to open when everything else had been unwrapped. When I got married and started a family, I carried on that tradition. The Christmas after Kiki was born, I decided to make Lola a Christmas Stocking as a last minute idea – we realised that she’d be awake and excited before the baby {as Kiki didn’t wake up until 9am!} and we thought a stocking was something she could open before we started on the rest of the gifts. Well, she woke up, opened the half a dozen or so gifts in her stocking and was SO excited. She declared that ‘Santa had brought her lots of gifts, will he come back next year?!’ So cute!
The following year, we decided to do stockings for all of us instead of our ‘tea-time’ gift. It’s a tradition that continues to this day, and is one of my favourite things of Christmas Day. The girls love hanging their stockings by the fire on Christmas Eve, and spend most of Christmas Day asking how long until they can open them. Those little fillers you put in always seem to create so much happiness {sometimes even more so than the ‘big’ gifts they’ve opened in the morning!}. Traditions like this are what make Christmas Time so special and magical, and it is the memories that the girls will remember when they are grown up and have families of their own.
Do you have stockings at Christmas time? I’d love to know what you fill them with! The House of Fraser are offering this gorgeous embroidered bird stocking for one of you to win. Just enter below via the Rafflecopter box. The giveaway ends on Thursday so you’ll have your stocking in time for Santa to fill!
Post in association with House of Fraser
83 Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Claire Hull
December 13, 2014 at 12:07Doing a family secret santa, and opening our presents on christmas eve
iain maciver
December 13, 2014 at 12:07hanging up stockings
Samantha R
December 13, 2014 at 12:48a big family get together on Christmas eve
Monica Gilbert
December 13, 2014 at 14:27Starting with the youngest, each person takes turns selecting the next gift to be opened.
Suzanne Drummond
December 13, 2014 at 14:41the childrens stockings are hung up on there bed and they play with them then come down stairs
kim neville
December 13, 2014 at 15:33The kids open one presie each Christmas eve then when they wake up open their stocking first then rest of presies
emma falvi
December 13, 2014 at 16:27we open presents on christmas eve
Elizabeth (Liz) Briggs
December 13, 2014 at 16:34We leave one present on the end of their beds (normally pyjamas or onesies and socks) for them to open before they come in an get us on Christmas morning x
Sarah Pybus
December 13, 2014 at 17:43All the kids getting in our bed to open their gifts from santa :)
claire woods
December 13, 2014 at 18:52Mince pie and milk for santa.
Nat thomason
December 13, 2014 at 20:15Ghost stories and mince pies on Xmas eve
Tania Atfield
December 13, 2014 at 21:56Bringing duvets down on Christmas eve and watching films together
Shirley Evans
December 13, 2014 at 22:05favourite tradition is collecting holly and mistletoe christmas eve
Becky
December 14, 2014 at 08:25My fave tradition is lighting the christmas candle on Christmas eve and blowing kisses to heaven
EJ Dunn
December 14, 2014 at 11:05I’m 25 and my sisters are (soon to be) 19 and 15. We still leave out sherry, some sweets, a carrot and a bowl of water for Father Christmas and his reindeer.
Spencer Broadley
December 14, 2014 at 11:11I don’t know if you would call it a tradition, but I always cook on Xmas Day and do a massive buffet on Boxing Day (gives mum 2 days off at least)- tradition mebbe Im on G&T at 7am in the morning!!!!
Rachel Craig
December 14, 2014 at 12:37My Mum inviting all the family to her home for Christmas meal. We grew to buy each other small surprise gifts for Christmas (as well as main present). As my brother would tell information regarding gifts (he either couldn’t or wouldn’t keep a secret, allow nice Christmas surprise of main presents etc). It came to become jovial etc (e.g. Mercedes for car lover, though toy car possibly by corgi). We felt Christmas was about merriment (Joy, Peace etc)
Laura Pritchard
December 14, 2014 at 12:46Playing board games & charades on Christmas Eve!
MichelleD
December 14, 2014 at 13:14I love Christmas Eve, when we leave a drink, mince pie and carrots for Santa and his reindeers then we put stockings out on the end of the bed!
Helen M
December 14, 2014 at 13:46Making decorations on Christmas Eve.
Jen Palmer
December 14, 2014 at 14:02Opening our stockings first thing in the morning.
Joanna Butler-Savage
December 14, 2014 at 14:07going to church on xmas eve with the kids
Anita Roberts
December 14, 2014 at 14:16eating warm croissants on xmas morning in my onesie
Sarah JG
December 14, 2014 at 14:44buckfizz breakfast on xmas morning
valerie cooper
December 14, 2014 at 14:45socks at end of beds with nuts orange apple and sweets in
Paula Barker
December 14, 2014 at 15:05We take turns to open our presents, always going in the same order and sitting in the same place every year
Tracey Parker
December 14, 2014 at 15:18This has become tradition, my husband being on standby if my nieces and nephew are overexcited to be Father Christmas on the end of the phone, to date they’ve not twigged despite knowing his voice!
Ms Suan Watts
December 14, 2014 at 15:33We always have bacon sandwiches on Christmas morning
Jessica Powell
December 14, 2014 at 15:52hanging up the stockings
Tracy Nixon
December 14, 2014 at 16:45Family Christmas movie night in on Christmas Eve with lots of tasty nibbles and wine for mummy!
LUCY BISHOP
December 14, 2014 at 16:46Mince pies and mulled wine in front of Home Alone x
Becky Y
December 14, 2014 at 18:06We always decorate the tree together and buy a new ornament for it each year!
laura stewart
December 14, 2014 at 18:24we go for a walk after dinner xx
Kate Phillips
December 14, 2014 at 19:11Playing cards and stupid board games together.
olga
December 14, 2014 at 19:14buying a Christmas tree
Tara Clover
December 14, 2014 at 20:01bacon sarnies for brekkie
KATHY D
December 14, 2014 at 20:09singing carols together on ~Christmas Eve
Sandra Lane
December 14, 2014 at 20:28We always take the dog out for a (short) walk then when we get back we have pancakes with maple syrup for breakfast and finally open our presents.
ashleigh allan
December 14, 2014 at 20:31Making chocolates for santa!
Paula Readings
December 14, 2014 at 20:57The children get to play a new Dvd film on Christmas eve.
Geoff Dagger
December 14, 2014 at 22:23Weirdly we collect Christmas moose and on the day we put the tree up we have a moose parade
Michaela Hannah
December 15, 2014 at 05:35Taking the kids to see Santa on Christmas Eve
donna l jones
December 15, 2014 at 12:33movie night on christmas eve
Suzanne Howell
December 15, 2014 at 13:16Our tradition concerning the Christmas stockings is that my daughter brings her stocking into our bedroom and opens the little gifts before we all go downstairs. This gives me and hubby a few precious minutes to wake up a bit more!
Liam Bishop
December 15, 2014 at 14:41I love new pyjamas on Christmas Eve!
Paul Meulen
December 15, 2014 at 14:59Singing carols
lucy higgins
December 15, 2014 at 15:24we dont open our gifts until after lunch
kristin burdsall
December 15, 2014 at 17:17When i was little we would always chose a tree as a family and buy chestnuts at the same time. My dad would cook them in the ash pan of the open fire. Tasted fantastic!
Julie Edwards
December 15, 2014 at 19:12We don’t have any family traditions but as a child we always had to dress up smart for Christmas day
Lucie Plant
December 15, 2014 at 19:20Opening one present of Christmas eve :)
gemma clark
December 15, 2014 at 19:29We have always opened a gift at midnight on Christmas eve since becoming adults. We still all do it now! usually new pjs x
Viv C
December 15, 2014 at 21:36No traditions I can think of but now we have a toddler of our own we are thinking about what traditions we would like to have – some great ideas.
Miss Tracy Hanson
December 15, 2014 at 21:46Midnight Mass and then we open some presents before dinner and some after. Also you can’t leave the dinner table until everyone has finished. Usually works well. :)
Robyn Logan Clarke
December 15, 2014 at 22:54Getting up ridiculous early and having coffee before we go and see the tree
Hekna
December 16, 2014 at 01:02Opening the presents as soon as it hits midnight!
ROSEMARY SHEEHAN
December 16, 2014 at 01:23Instead of putting an orange in my daughters stockings, I put a tin of Mandarins in juice instead, they have it as a snack for breakfast when they wake up.
jo liddement
December 16, 2014 at 08:21We always have Scampi ,Peas and Chips on Christmas Eve and it was a tradition started when I was a child.
Lucy carter
December 16, 2014 at 10:18A new ornament for the tree every year
carlie bryan
December 16, 2014 at 10:20having sausage rolls on christmas morning
Jade
December 16, 2014 at 11:02Walking through town to see the christmas lights on Christmas Eve
Laura Loo
December 16, 2014 at 13:20We have a family get together on christmas eve and share one present each. We then go home and have hot ham rolls while watching a christmas film
Becca Staples
December 16, 2014 at 14:24Crazy Christmas eve food shop for us x
Eva Appleby
December 16, 2014 at 17:01relax after dining out x
claire griffiths
December 16, 2014 at 17:21elf on the shelf antics and xmas eve boxes
Lauren Old
December 16, 2014 at 17:37Opening presents first thing in our certain places, all together for a big roast and then playing a game and watching TV in the afternoon
Susan B
December 16, 2014 at 18:11Finding the silver coins and trinkets my grandmother used to hide in the Christmas pudding.
Eleanor Powell
December 16, 2014 at 19:03having Birthday cake instead of Christmas cake as its my daughters birthday Christmas day
Claire Barker
December 16, 2014 at 19:23Putting up and decorating the tree on Christmas eve.
Michelle Rayner
December 16, 2014 at 19:28Christmas jumpers anda new bauble that represents someone in the family each year
Sarah Heath
December 16, 2014 at 19:44It has to be gammon and pickle for brekkie on. Christmas Day
Clare S
December 16, 2014 at 20:42Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast on Christmas morning
Cheryl Kean
December 16, 2014 at 20:45christmas eve we order a chinese and watch miracle on 34th street
Laura
December 16, 2014 at 21:01Opening presents one by one as a family
tracey baker
December 16, 2014 at 21:53Taking the kids to our local Church for the Crib service lots of Carols and the kids are usually Angels or Shepherds – My eldest daughter was once baby Jesus – 20 years ago now!!!
PAUL STANLEY
December 16, 2014 at 22:09THE WHOLE FAMILY DRESSING THE TREE
Irene Gilmour
December 16, 2014 at 22:33kids get to open one gift on xmas eve from a family member
MANDY DOHERTY
December 16, 2014 at 23:24A family mael of gammon & chips
MANDY DOHERTY
December 16, 2014 at 23:25A family meal of gammon & chips
Tammy Neal
December 17, 2014 at 01:14My family tradition is spend together sharing love and laughter, opening presents together and eating at the table together
Kiran Parry
December 17, 2014 at 04:47Watching Christmas films together
karen taylor
December 17, 2014 at 05:18Having a walk after Christmas lunch to the local nature reserve to feed the ducks, then having the Christmas pud we were too full to manage earlier!
debbie jackson
December 17, 2014 at 06:04Making a christmas cake & mince pies. My nan did it, so did my mum so now I do. My daughter loves helping, especially decorating the christmas cake. Hopefully it’s something she will carry on.
Erica Price
December 17, 2014 at 07:25Putting up the Christmas decorations